Plate finishing machine



Aug. 1s, 1942. A. A. w. wo@ Em 2,293,091

PLATE FIN/I SHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 1 9 ,'91 Q V 9u N R NN N Zaydrcom W95/7714. 327160Z AU8- 18, 1942 H. A. w. woon Erm. 2,293,091

4 PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Filed F'veb. 23, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. V1s, 1942.

H. A. w. woo'D ET AL 2,293,091 PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23; 1959 4' sheets-sheet :5

l l l H. A. W. WOOD ET AL PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Aug. 18, 1942.

Filed Feb. 23, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet `4\ Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATES iurTizNT OFFICE chifery Corporation, Plainfield, N. J., a corporation of Virginia Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 257,870

13 Claims.

'This' invention relates to a stereotype plate 'casting 'machine and to that particular part of lit ih which the plate is delivered from the shaving sarch preferably to a cooling arch. t The 'principal objects of the invention are to `'give the plate a boost just as the second plate stop iis .iowered to permit the plate to pass out of the shaving arch by gravity; to provide means whereby, as the plate goes through the shaving arch and strikes the second plate stop, the ejector, or device for boosting the plate, acts as a buffer to prevent rebounding of the plate as it moves out of the shaving arch.

This booster can, when everything is Working properly for starting the plate out of the arch, merely follow the plate a short portion of the way and not actually push it. When, however, the plate is sluggish in moving, for any reason Whatever, this booster or ejector necessarily comes into play and sets the plate moving down the inclined path.

thr objects and advantages of the invention Will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to'be had to the accompanying drawings, in which A Fig. 1 is an elevation of a plate finishing machine adapted for curved stereotype printing plates with parts in longitudinal section to show interior construction and a portion of the driving means;

Fig. 1a is a plan on a slight incline, as indicated by the arrow la in Fig. 1 of the first stop in connection with the cam which is `associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the part of the driving mechanism for transmitting power from the motor to the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central sectional view` of the shaving arch with a plate entering it;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view withV the plate engaging the second stop to hold it in the right position in the arch longitudinallyY and also in connection with the pusher;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showingthe second stop lowered to allow the plate to be pushed positively out of the arch by the pusher;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the platehaving started out of the arch over the stop;

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view showing the pusher, and the parts cooperating therewith, in a position in which the pusher is not yet in condition to operate in any way on the plate;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the pusher in the same position as in Fig. 8 with all the parts in section;

Fig. 11 is aplan view of the knife bar;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a shaving arch and cooling stand showing a broader form of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 13 is a plan of part of the rollers constituting supporting means for the plate and showing the application of the invention thereto;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the same, wlooking in the direction of the arrow I4 in Fig. 13; Vand Fig. 15 is a sectional view on enlarged scale on the line |5-I5 of Fig. 12. A

This invention deals with the type of machine used in the manufacture of stereotype printing plates whereinV a semi-cylindrical plate is shaved or finished on the inside ribs to the true curvature and thickness. It is the ordinary practice with machines of this nature to pass the plate intermittently through the machine on an angle, thereby using the force of gravity to traverse the plate from one stop to another Vin its course through the machine.

In the particular embodiment shown, the plate is placed upon a receiving and `inspection platform and, after being inspected, it is started down an inclined run-Way consisting of rollers in alignment. It rst comes in contact with what is known as the rst plate vstop. This stop times the entry of the plate into the shaving arch.

Thus, when the iirst plate stop is depressed, itis removed from the path of the metal back of f the plate which travels on an incline until it contacts the second plate stop, placingthe plate within the arch. By said clamping mechanism the plate is then lifted up and placed firmly against the shaving arch. Now a knife bar, carrying a shaving knife or knives, rotates to finish the customary ribs on the concave side of the printing plate.

The curved beveled edges of the plate are also trimmed by trimming tools to take off sharp edges. j

After the knives and trimming tools have performed their functions, the plate is then automatically lowered out of contact with the shaving arch, the vsecond plate stop descends, and the -plate is allowed to pass on tothe water cooling In many ClSBS the operator of the machine keeps a stick handy for pushing the plate out of the machine and in some cases uses his hand for this purpose. Both of these methods are unsatisfactory and the latter is very dangerous. In either case it is difcult to accurately time the application of the push in order to obtain the best results. If too heavy a push is given, the plate may be damaged or pass through the water cooling chamber without stopping. On the other hand, if the plate does not start out of the arch properly, it may not be fully out when the clamping mechanism begins to work again, thereby damaging not only the plate but possibly the machine. This invention is provided to avoid such difculties..

Fig. 1 shows the part of the machine to which this invention relates, showing the plate starting device. The-machine is made up principally of three parts, namely: the main frame II, receiving end I2 and the delivery end I3. The plates to be nished are usually of a, concave form and are placed on the platform I4- on their straight edges. After inspection, one plate at a time is moved up on two inclined lines of rollers I5 until the forward end of the plate yabuts against the firststop I1. The operation of this vertically reciprocating plate stop is controlled by a rotating cam I6. This cam I6 is secured to the knife bar 6 which-derives its rotation from a motor I8, secured under the end portion of the loading-platform I4. Through a pinion Iii on the main shaft of this motor and gear 20, mounted on` a shaft 2|, as shown in Fig. 4, the power is transmitted to the shaft 2l. This shaft 2I has integral therewith a worm 22 which meshes with a Worm Wheel 23 carried by a shaft 24. This latter shaft is mounted in suitable ball bearings 25 and 26, as shown in Fig. 3. Integral with the shaft 24 is a worm 21 meshing with a worm wheel 28, mounted on a bearing hub sleeve 29. This worm is lfree to rotate on the sleeve 29, except that it is connected thereto by a shear'pin 36, which serves the usual purpose. The bearing hub sleeve 29 is -secured to the knife bar 6 by a key 3| and held-in placeby lock nuts 32; Tapered roller bearings 33 and 34 provide a mounting for the knife bar 6, which is slanted and concentric with the arch portion of the main frame II.

Referring nowto Fig.l 2, it will be seen that shaving knives 35and35a -are mounted on this knife bar and servel to shave, at one revolution, all the internal ribs of the printing plate P so as'to give an even thickness tothe plate. This, of course, is done while the plate P is clamped in the shaving arch. I'he features so far described are wellknown in this industry.

Substantially 180 away from the 'shaving knife Y 35 is shown the pusher or plate ejector 8. This is shown more fully in the third'sheet of draw' A longitudinal T-shot O ismachined in' ings. the knife bar 6 with certain portions of the overhanging ledges cut away substantially as shown in Fig. 11.

A slide bar 2 is also made on its lower portion in the shape of a T with cutouts complementary with those of the knife bar 6. This permits the slide bar to be inserted in the T-slot and moved in a, longitudinal direction, thereby securing it against-radial motion but permitting longitudinal motion. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the slide bar 2 is counter-bored to accommodate a springd. In the end of the counter-bored hole, a longitudinal, marginal rod 3 is placed abutting one end of the spring and at the other a shoulder 6a in the knife bar 6. The cooperation of this rod 3 and the spring 4 tends to force the slide bar 2 to the right. This pushes a roller 5, carried by a, stud 5a, secured in the slide bar 2, against a shoulder of a cam 1. In this manner the stop is kept in the location shown in Figs. 5 and 9, held under the plate P under spring pressure and moving by the force of a spring out to engage its rear end. When the rotation of the knife bar brings the roller 5 around to the position shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 1I), however, the slide bar 2 is pushed to the left of the position shown in l. This is caused by a highpart of the stationary cam 1. Secured to the slide bar 2 is a bracket 9 on which the plate ejector 8 is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin I6. This plate ejector is urged upwardly by a spring Ilia. This upward motion is limited by contact with the bracket 6. A shoulder 8a of the plate ejector 8 contacts the plate under the conditions above described and boosts it out of the arch in a longitudinal manner by the action of the cam 1.

The booster or plate ejector 3 returns to its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, when the roller 5 runs off the high part of the cam 'I. It will be understood that for each revolution of the knife bar 6, this plate ejector operates once for the purpose described.

The bracket 9 is secured to the slide bar 2 by means which permit adjustment of this stop longitudinally on the bar to accommodate difierent lengths of plate.

t will be understood, of course, that the second plate stop 6.6 releases the plate in timed relation to the operation of the plate ejector 8. This is accomplished by a cam 31 secured to the knife bar 6 carrying a cam path which cooperates with a roller 38 secured by a stud 39 to the lower portion of the plate stop 46. A spring I6-is used to keep the plate stop I6 in its upper position, and when the cam roller 38 operates in the path of the cam 31 to lower the second plate stop 46, it is accomplished against the force of a spring 4E). The plate, after leaving the arch, goes through a cooling stand i Ia and is delivered from the end of the finishing machine in a well known manner on the receiving end I3.

It is apparent, therefore, that means 8a, are provided which act to prevent the rebound of a plate as it is stopped underneath the shaving arch and also servesfor assisting gravity in moving the plate straight out from underneath the arch.

It is true also that the dropping of the platesv in the arch on the rolls by which they are conveyed through and out of the arch causes indentations in the sharp bottom longitudinal edges of the plate, particularly when a metal happens to be used that is not quite'as hard as the ordinary stereotype rnetal. These notches are apt to cause trouble later on in the stereotyping and printing processes and to tend to hold the plate in the arch when it should move along. The so-called booster is designed to prevent the stopping of the plates when these notches are imprinted in their edges and furthermore to prevent or reduce the forming of the notches.

It is well known that stereotype plates are made of soft metal with sharp longitudinal side edges and that these edges have to be supported on the above mentioned rolls for carrying the plate through the machine, that is, the shaving arch and cooling arch usually. When being shaved the plate is held firmly up against the arch and when the shaving operation is completed the plate is brought down suddenly and, in fact, dropped on the rolls above mentioned. 'The pressure of the rolls against the edges of 4the plates often results, particularly in cases of :soft plates, in forming indentations on the soft edges of the plates.

A broader form4 of the invention is shown in IFigs. 12, 13 and 14.

In inclined alignment with the first rollers l5 which support the plate after it leaves the lloading platform are additional spring pressed rollers 36 which perform the same function as the rst rollers and a special roller 36ar on each side of the arch. All these rollers are mounted on the lifting bar 4| which carries others of these rollers l5 also. This roller 36a is mounted on the stud shaft 42 and is provided with a knurled surface 43 which, of course, if it engages the bottom edge of the plate and is rotating constantly, will operate to move the plate out of the arch. This is accomplished by the provision of a motor 44 at any desired point which is kept in constant operation at least whenever a plate is being, or about to be, taken out of the arch. It operates through a chain` 45 and a pulley 4l, a shaft 48 on which the roller 36a is fixed. This shaft 48 has bearings on a pivoted bracket 49. The stud lshaft 42 is provided with a spring 50 which will normally act to hold the roller 36a beyond the line of the rollers I5 and 36. 'I'hese rollers 36 that are located near the roller 36a are also mounted on frames 5I which are pivoted at 52 and are capable of moving with respect tothe lifter bar.

Now, it will be seen that as the lifter bar is set for receiving the plate out of the arch and moved upwardly through rods 53 slightly, the,

two rolls 35 shown in Fig. 14, which are on opposite sides of the roller 36a, will be movably mo-unted and guided in suitable guides 54 carried by the lifter bar. The rollers 36a will be pushed up by the springs 50 soA that when the plate first comes into contact with this line of rollers, it will contact with the knurled surface 43 upon the roller 35a which, at that time, is constantly rotating. Therefore, it not only fails to make much of a notch in the edge of the printing plate by this contact on account of being yieldingly mounted, but it immediately gets hold of the plate and by the surface 43 it boosts the plate out of the arch. Thereafter, the plate will go through to the cooling stand or whatever other device is to receive it practically without the notches that have heretofore caused accidents and under positive power. Naturally, the roll 36a descends from supporting the entire plate but only enough for it to be supported by all of the rolls. The mechanism may be the same on the other side of the machine.

The motor 44 may be arranged to operate in timed relation to the operation of the second plate stop 45 which releases the plate from the shaving arch. The plate, after leaving the arch, goes through a cooling stand 55 and is delivered from the end of the finishing machine in a well known manner on a receiving stand end. It will be noticed that on account of the plate coming down on the roll that is operated continuously or intermittently so that it is always rotating when the plate does come down, the rebounding of the plate as it is stopped on the shaving arch is prevented and the knurled roll assists gravity the instant the plate and roll Contact in feeding the plate down the incline.

'I'his booster is always working to move the plate along its inclined path immediately it strikes the lines of rolls. Also the rst roll the plate strikes on each side is a knurled, constantly rotating, roll located at that time above the line connecting the tops of the other rolls. Therefore, the plate is not injured at the edge because it strikes the rotating surface on each side and then is passed along the series of rollers without again striking any roller with any force.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. The combination, in a stereotype plate casting machine, of an ,inclined arch, a plate stop at the lower end thereof, an ejector adapted to engage the plate from the underneath and rear to start the plate out of the arch and hold it against backward motion, and means for ac- 'mating Said ejector to bring it in contact with the rear edge of the plate and simultaneously actuate the plate stop to release the plate and permit boosting of the plate out of the arch by the ejector.

2. In a curved stereotype plate shaving machine, the combination with a shaving arch in which a plate is held on an inclined axis for shaving, a plate stop at the lower edge of the arch, of positive means for assisting gravity in feeding the plate out of the arch after the shav ing is completed, and means for actuating said positive means and simultaneously releasing the plate stop means from the plate.

3. 'I'he combination with a shaving arch, of two parallel sets of rollers set at an inclination to form a gravity run-way, whereby the plate resting on said rollers can be fed through and out of the arch by gravity, some of said rollers freely and loosely rotating on stationary axes, as the plate moves, one of said rollers being pivotally mounted, yielding means for holding the last-named roller slightly above the other rolls to engage the plate yieldingly, said last-named roller having a knurled surface for engaging the plate, and means for rotating said last-named roller positively, one roll located on ea-ch side of the last-named roll along said run-way, the latter rolls being movable up and down.

4. The combination with a shaving arch, of two parallel sets of rollers set at an inclination to form a gravity run-Way, whereby the plate, resting on said rollers, can be fed through and out of the arch-by gravity, some of said rollers freely and loosely rotating on stationary axes, as the plate moves, one of said rollers being movably mounted, yielding means for holding the last-named roller slightly above the other rolls to engage the plate yieldingly, said last-named roller having a knurled surface for engaging the plate, and means for rotating vsaid last-named roller positively.

5. The combination in a stereotype plate casting machine, of an inclined arch, a plate stop at the lower end thereof, of a knife bar, a shaving knife carried thereby, an ejector mounted on said knife bar adapted tocontact the plate and start the plate out of the arch and hold it against backward motion.

6. In a curved stereotype plate shaving machine, the combination with a shaving arch in which a plate is held on an inclined axis for shaving, of a knife bar, a shaving knife carried thereby, an ejector mounted on said knife bar adapted to contact the plate and assist gra'vity in feeding the plate out of the arch after the shavingis completed.

7. A combination with a shaving arch, of Va knife bar, a, shaving knife carried thereby, an ejector mounted on' said knife bar adapted to contact the plate from the underneath and rear to start the plate out of the arch and hold it against backward motion, of two inclined series of rollers therein for supportingthe longitudinal edges of the stereotype plate to be shaved, an inclined gravity run-way for thearch, and means for running one of said rollers to provide positive means for starting a plate out of the arch as soon as it is released from the position in which it was shaved.

8. The combination in a stereotype plate cast ing machine, of an inclined arch, a knife bar, a shaving knife carried thereby, a plate .stopy an ejector mounted on said knife bar adapted to engage the plate from the underneath and to move to a position to engage the plate Vat the rear as the plate moves out of the arch, to thereby give the plate a boost, just as said plate is loosened from its place as held in the arch, and positively start the plate outof the arch.

9. The combination, in a stereotype plate casting machine, of an inclined arch, a knife bar, a shaving knife carried thereby, a vertically reciprocable plate stop, an ejector mounted on the knife bar adapted to engage the' plate from the underneath and to move to a position to engage the plate at the rear as the plate moves out of the arch, timed with respect to the stop to thereby give the plate a positive boost, just as said plate is loosened from its place as held in the arch, and cause the plate to be positively started out of the arch.

at the lower end thereof, of a knife bar, a shaving knife carried thereby, an ejector mounted on said knife bar adapted to contact the plate and start the plate out of the arch and hold it against backward motion, and means for actuating said ejector to bring it into contact with the rear edge of the plate and simultaneously actuate the plate stop to release the plate and permit boosting of the plate out of the arch by the ejector.

11. The combination, in a stereotype plate casting machine, of an inclined arch, a plate stop, an ejector adapted to engage the plate at its rear edge, means for simultaneously releasing the stop from the front of the plate and bringing the ejector into position at the rear edge of the plate, to thereby give the plate a boost, just as said plate is loosened from its place as held in the arch, and cause the plate to be started out of it positively.

12. vThe combinaltion, in a stereotype plate casting machine, of an inclined arch, a vertically reciprocable plate stop for the front edge of the plate, an ejector adapted to engage the plate at its rear edge, means for simultaneously releasing the stop from the front edge of the plate and bringing the ejector into position bee hind the rear edge ofthe plate to thereby give the plate a positive boost.

13, A combination with a shaving arch, two

linclined rows of rollers for supporting stereotyped plates in position on said rolls to be fed down the series by gravity, means to admit a plate to said arch, stop it When properly located in the arch for shaving and hold it in the arch long enough to be shaved, and means after at this time engaging the rear end of the plate and positively boosting the plate out of the arch.

HENRY A. WlSE WOOD. PAUL L. TOLLISON. 

